Research

I study the interactions between fungi and their plant hosts in tropical forests, exploring how these relationships shape plant growth, survival, and community dynamics. My research spans multiple scales, from the physiology of roots and leaves to population- and ecosystem-level processes, and integrates both fundamental and applied questions. Current projects examine root-associated Helotiales fungi in tropical Podocarps, foliar fungal pathogens across forest hosts, and the composition and diversity of fungal communities in roots and leaves, with a broader goal of understanding biodiversity, forest health, and potential applications in sustainable agriculture and restoration.

Root-Associated Fungi of Tropical Conifers

For my dissertation at the University of Illinois, I aim to determine the fungi associated with root-nodules distinct within the tropical conifer family Podocarpaceae and the factors that maintain or alter the symbiosis and species distribution. This work will be completed primarily in the patches of Podocarpus forests in Panama.

Foliar Fungal Pathogens

Working as a research assistant with Dr. Erin Spear at STRI, I collaborated on understanding the role of abiotic factors related to canopy gradients and how this affects foliar pathogen community composition and thermal tolerance of the fungi. I also lead my own research project to determine the role of seasonality on foliar pathogen communities of Anacardium excelsum seedlings and the impact on population dynamics on Barro Colorado Island. I will continue this work in the context of Podocarps.

Endophyte Communities in Adventitious Roots of Lianas

I completed an honors thesis in environmental biology at Tulane in Dr. Sunshine Van Bael’s lab. The goal of this research was to identify the fungal endophyte communities in liana adventitious roots and how these communities may be different depending on the substrate they are growing in (air, water, soil).

Nutrient Acquisition Strategies of Tropical Trees

Working with then graduate student Dr. Mareli Sanchez-Julia in Panama, we wanted to determine how soil phosphorus may affects the strategies trees use to uptake nutrients. Trees have mechanisms that are outsourced, mycorrhizae, or self-made, phosphatase, for uptake. This research involved collecting roots from sets of conspecifics for multiple species across the phosphorus gradient of Panama. We measured root traits, mycorrhizal colonization, endophyte communities, and phosphatase activity.